International Society for Urban Health (ISUH)

It's #UrbanOctober! Are you committed to creating a better #urban future for all? Then join us at our upcoming 20th International Conference on Urban Health #ICUH24 taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco on November 18-21! Together with hundreds of experts, researchers, advocates and leaders from around the world, we will be exploring "A Healthier Horizon: Activating #Urban #Health Strategies for a #Climate Resilient Tomorrow." Check out our exciting program including inspiring plenary sessions; dynamic workshops and panels; a special "Urban Health in Practice: Shaping the Changemakers of Tomorrow" intensive course; a unique half day excursion and many fun site visits and tours! Please note that most of our side events and tours have limite capacity, don't wait to sign up! Check out our preliminary program: icuh2024.org/agenda Discover our featured plenary speakers: https://lnkd.in/eVTd45Ch Register for the conference: icuh2024.org/registration Many thanks to our amazing local, regional and global partners for their commitment and support: World Health Organization, UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), Ministère de la Santé et de la Protection Sociale - Maroc, Université Mohammed VI des Sciences et de la Santé - UM6SS, High Atlas Foundation, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), City of Johannesburg, Ville de Dakar, UCLG Africa, Youth For Climate Morocco, Centre on African Public Spaces, Break the Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc. We can't wait to welcome you in Marrakesh next month! #UrbanHealth #ClimateAction

Going to Scale 2 : One Project to Change A City 4 minutes of wisdom from Somsook Boonyabancha about how to make one project a jumping off place for citywide change. It is gratifying to improve quality of life in one neighborhood in a city, but so much better if you can execute that one project in a way that lays the groundwork for improvements throughout the city. Boonyabancha describes how having local government, practitioners and academics collaborate on one urban development project allows them to build relationships and a knowledge base that can inform and energize numerous other projects throughout the city. #ACE4Equity #communitydevelopment, #equitabledevelopment #communitynetworks #AsianCoalitionForHousingRights https://lnkd.in/dUaxfhSr

Going to Scale: The Power of Community Networks  Could this work in the US? 300 cities in Thailand have networks of community groups that mentor one another to improve quality of life. Each city also has a “public institution” that allows city government, community members, and representatives of civil society and academia to all serve on a board together in service of the city. This 4 min video describes how this dynamic system of engaging communities to drive citywide change has evolved over the past 30 years. Somsook Boonyabancha is founder of the asian coalition for housing rights and has been a visionary for community-led development for over 30 years.  This video is part of the ISUH Accelerating City Equity project. Search - ISUH ACE Stories from the Field – and look for Master Class 1 to hear more from Boonyabancha. (Video by Camilla Calamandrei) #ACE4Equity #urbandevelopment #networks #communitynetworks #cities #sustainabledevelopment https://lnkd.in/dF-XASBG 

Applications are OPEN for the Spring 2025 FXB International Climate Advocates Program! Are you a passionate youth advocate (13–25) ready to advance #climate action? The FXB Climate Advocates Program offers a unique opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and connections essential for driving real-world climate solutions. This FREE and fully virtual program (January–May 2025) empowers youth to: - Gain insights from world-class experts at Harvard University and more. - Develop leadership, communication, and project management skills to implement impactful community climate initiatives. - Connect with a global network of like-minded advocates working for a sustainable future. Don't miss your chance to join this transformative experience. Apply by December 30, 2024: https://lnkd.in/gj9F8hA6 Let’s empower the next generation of climate leaders! #UrbanHealth #ClimateAction

Last month, I visited Marrakesh, Morocco to attend the 20th International Conference on Urban Health. Connecting with this global network of changemakers and learning about solutions that improve health, equity, and wellbeing around the world is always a pleasure, and this International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) convening was one for the books.  This year’s theme was “A Healthier Horizon: Activating Urban Health Strategies for a Climate Resilient Tomorrow” — which is as important as ever as we navigate a changing climate and its impact on our health.  I had the privilege to moderate a panel discussion with leaders Maria Clara Pinheiro, Tolullah Oni, and Charity Mumbi on how global trends are shaping equitable futures in a changing climate. The insights each of them shared into what they are seeing in their work across the globe and their stories of hope were inspiring. After the plenary, I hosted a special trend-sensing workshop, where attendees gathered to collaborate and identify emerging trends related to the conference theme. I was especially struck that the meeting was held at the Museum of Water. I have never seen a museum of water before. Given how essential water is to life, every place should have a museum of water so we can understand where our water comes from, how to preserve it, and how to distribute it equitably and efficiently. I also learned about the aqueducts (khettaras) that date back to the 12th century. It reminds us of how much we can learn from ancient systems for climate solutions. Thanks to ISUH for having me!

I was thrilled to be part of the 20th Annual International Conference on Urban Health in Morocco. This year’s #ICUH24 brought together 364 attendees from 68 countries. I met an incredible array of people, from architects to medical doctors, working across academia, government, NGOs, communities, and politics. Highlights and Takeaways: - Thriving Foodscapes Workshop: How fast food follows public transport by Louise Vogel Kielgast, Jo Jewell, and Ty Greene. - Global Trends Panel: “The future belongs to those who create it,” quoting Tolullah Oni, with Karabi Acharya, Charity Mumbi, and Maria Clara Pinheiro. - Sponge Cities Workshop: Culturally and climate-sensitive solutions by Maryam Naghibi Memorable moments: - Talking to Robin on his Good Place Bench - Admiring CarlottaCat's live graphic recording skills - Bringing home Carlos Moreno’s book, “The 15-min-City.” - Tasting prickly pear on Ryan Smolar’s local market tour - Dancing to Moroccan tunes after the networking dinner - Walking to the conference with Jamilah Maronde and Karina Sánchez Bazán and Oyinkansola Babayode, MD Insightful conversations on: - Urban green spaces with Ana Paula Seraphim - Heat mapping with Alvaro Valera Sosa - Food waste with Thomas Henry Culhane, Ph.D. - Korean healthy cities with Eunjeong Kang - E-bikes and GIS with Greg Rybarczyk - Local government with Dr Saira Ali - Public space reclamation with Françoise SCHAETZEL - UN-Habitat’s work with Maria Jose Palacio - Community-led greening with Dr Gayle Souter-Brown - Public policy tools with Deepti Adlakha - Growing food along footpaths with Lambed T. - Multisensory landscapes with Darell Katherine Ruiz Alvarez - Air and sound quality for cyclists with Maria Alejandra Rubio - Foodscapes mapping with Emma Dahill - Finding the right champion with Serena Tohme - PhD processes with Lily Purcell - Complex systems with Andres Useche, Ph.D. - Engaging teaching with Zeina ElZein - Cultural differences in walkability with Evan Cheung - Urban health systems with Nayeli Salazar de Noguera - Mental health and green space with, Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo and Weronika Gąsior - Participatory systems thinking with Alsa Bakhtawar, Abbie Condie, Andréanne Chu Breton-Carbonneau, Mariangelí Echevarría-Ramos, MPH Thanks To: - The International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) and the conference organisation team - Amal Non-profit for keeping us all well-fed and healthy - UNSW for travel support Together, we can continue creating the healthy, equitable and climate-resilient cities we envisioned at #ICUH24. Photo Credit: Maria Visuals

A poster featuring TCI's innovative graduation model was awarded the Outstanding Research Poster Award at #ICUH2024 in Marrakesh, Morocco. The research showcased impressive outcomes, including 1.4 million additional #FamilyPlanning clients from 86 graduated cities, 119% of expected targets. By embedding coaching and institutionalizing practices within local government systems, the #TCI model ensures lasting health impact and sustainable progress beyond graduation. #GlobalHealth International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) https://lnkd.in/eER-4uuq

"When you see slums, there are certain linkages among the people, but it is not totally united. You have the interference of the politician, the money lender… If you want to change [the slum]… you need to find a way to link up people for a discussion.” In this 4min video, Somsook Boonyabancha discusses how her team has been engaging local government, residents and other community stakeholders to foster successful, #equitable and #sustainable #urban #development in 300 cities throughout #Thailand. We will post the 2nd video from this interview next week. Somsook Boonyabancha is founder of the asian coalition for housing rights and has been a visionary for community-led development for over 30 years.  This video is part of the ISUH Accelerating City Equity project. Search - ISUH ACE Stories from the Field – and look for Master Class 1 to find more videos featuring Boonyabancha and her work. (Video by Camilla Calamandrei)    #ACE4Equity #UrbanPlanning #HealthyHousing #Equity https://lnkd.in/e24Kr2aM

Spotlight on ICUH 2024 Day 3 – A Powerful Conclusion in Marrakesh! The final day of #ICUH24 was filled with more transformative discussions and inspiring reflections on #urban #health and #climate #resilience: Our fifth plenary on "Shifting Borders: The Migration of Infectious Diseases in Warming Cities" — moderated by our colleague Sarah Ruel-Bergeron, RA — highlighted the rise of infectious diseases exacerbated by climate change, with contributions from regional and international experts including Rachid Wahabi; Emeka Iloegbu; Fofana Diakaridia; Claver Adjobi; Sindhu Ravishankar; Kate Murphy; Elvis García. Fofana Diakaridia emphasized the fact that action plans need to be better supported by government policies and he stressed the importance of working hand-in-hand with populations. Discussions focused on groundbreaking solutions, from innovations in vaccines to infrastructure interventions. Our sixth plenary on "Leading by Example: African Innovations in Urban Health and Climate Adaptation" was a major highlight of the day with an opening keynote from Rabat Mayor, Ms. Fatiha El Moudni, whose leadership set the stage for a powerful conversation on Africa's role in climate adaptation. Speakers from across Africa showcased urban resilience strategies, particularly in Morocco. Thank you to moderator Abdellatif Bouazza as well as panelists Oumaima Khalil El Fanne; Oumaima EL Idrissi and Sinah Magolo. Our fantastic partner Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir closed the session with a powerful and inspiring call to action. Other Day 3 Highlights: City Leadership in Action Roundtable: City leaders came together for a compelling and interactive roundtable, discussing how cities are driving health and climate solutions. Thanks Oumaima EL Idrissi; Sinah Magolo; Dr Saira Ali and Françoise SCHAETZEL. Poster Award Winners: Special congrats to Sangeeta Goel & Kim Martin; Swati Mahajan; Suman Singh; and UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) Young Gamechangers for their remarkable contributions! Site Visit Highlights: The Healthy, Social Markets Tour at Souk Semmarine led by our friend Ryan Smolar provided an exciting look at the market’s dynamics and the role of food in #communities. Meanwhile, the Marrakesh Biking Tour gave participants an active and scenic exploration of “La Palmeraie” in partnership with local nonprofit Pikala Bikes. Closing Plenary: Charting Our Path Forward: As ICUH 2024 wrapped up, reflections on the week’s discussions by key colleagues paved the way for more concrete actions towards a healthier urban future: Blessing Mberu; Shamim Talukder; Carlos Dora; José Luis Castro and more. We were thrilled to officially announce that ICUH 2025 will take place in Wellington, New Zealand on November 18-21, 2025! What an incredible journey! Thank you to all who made ICUH 2024 unforgettable. Let’s continue our work toward healthier, more resilient #cities for all and we already look forward to seeing you all next year! #UrbanHealth

I had the privilege of speaking at the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) 20th Conference plenary session titled "Healthy by Design: Creating Climate-Resilient Urban Environments" — moderated by Nathalie Roebbel from the World Health Organization which explored how #urban #design and #environmental #health intersect to create #climate #resilient #communities. This session coincided with #WorldCOPDDay and I highlighted the enormous burden of #COPD in cities and countries and how it is exacerbated by air pollution. As the world’s cities continue to grow and evolve, the air we breathe must remain a central focus in urban planning, transportation systems, and climate-resilient policies. Poor air quality, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and inadequate infrastructure, is one of the great public health challenges of our time. Chronic respiratory diseases like #COPD and #asthma are aggravated by pollution, and millions suffer the consequences every day. Clean air isn’t just an environmental issue; it’s a fundamental human right. In my presentation, I highlighted how thoughtful #urban #design—integrating #green #spaces, carefully placed buildings, and sustainable transportation systems—can dramatically improve air quality. When cities take bold measures - prioritizing public transportation, cycling lanes, and pedestrian-friendly areas - we reduce reliance on cars and take a major step toward cleaner, healthier air. #Climate #resilient #policies must also be at the forefront. These policies put #health #first, protect community well-being, and offer economic benefits by reducing healthcare costs and creating healthier, more vibrant societies. Above all, they ensure our children inherit cities where clean air is a given, not a luxury. This work requires collaboration. Governments, health organizations, and communities must join forces to address this shared challenge. Together, we can create urban spaces that foster good health, tackle climate change, and allow future generations to thrive. I had the honour to be in the session with a group of distinguished experts who came together to share their expertise and vision with the conference audience. They are: Keynote speakers Cathryn Tonne and Carlos Moreno and fellow panelists Françoise SCHAETZEL, Rachel Huxley, Goodson Shalubala, and Zeina ElZein. Prof. Carlos Moreno concluded the session with a captivating keynote around his groundbreaking 15-minute city concept, offering a vision where urban spaces reconcile sustainability with quality of life. Photos courtesy of Maria Visuals Giselle Sebag, MPH, LEED AP ND Jeffrey Sturchio Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) #NCDs #AirQuality #AirPollution #healthylungs